‘17m People Die Of Cardiovascular Diseases Annually’

The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Ndidi Emmanuel Utchay, has said globally about 17.9 million people die as a result of Cardiovascular Diseases yearly.
Dr Utchay, who stated this as part of events commemorating the 2022 World Heart Day (WHD), explained that the 17.9 million people accounts for about 31 per cent fatalities worldwide.
‘’According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cardiovascular illnesses are responsible for about 11 per cent of over 2 million deaths in non-communicable diseases in Nigeria”, she said, adding that this situation is similar to Rivers State.
She identified tobacco smoking, unhealthy diet, reduced physical activities, alcoholism, increased high blood pressure, increased blood sugar levels, and obesity as some of the risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases, and stroke.
She stated that it is part of efforts to check the trend of such diseases in the State that the State Government built and equipped a world class standard cardiovascular centre in the State.
“Health workers of different cadres have also been trained in the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases with standard equipment provided in these facilities”, she stated.
Utchay, however, urged residents in Rivers State to adopt healthy lifestyle by avoiding smoking tobacco products, unhealthy diets, living sedentary lifestyles, and indulging excessive consumption of alcohol in order to avoid contracting such illnesses.
The theme of this year’s World Heart Day, “Use Heart for Every Heart”, she explained, is aimed at raising adequate awareness on cardiovascular diseases, prevent the diseases, and also learn how to manage the diseases, when they occur.